Over The Counter Nsaids For Cats

Nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs nsaids are members of a drug class that reduces pain decreases fever prevents blood clots and in higher doses decreases inflammation side effects depend on the specific drug but largely include an increased risk of gastrointestinal ulcers and bleeds heart attack and kidney disease.

Over the counter nsaids for cats.

This combined with the fact that dogs metabolize and excrete nsaids differently than people means that even relatively low doses of ibuprofen can. More than one dose of meloxicam in cats can cause kidney failure or death and the effects of long term use of other nsaids in cats are. Never use human medications for your pet unless advised by your vet. Currently no nsaids are approved for long term use in cats.

Examples of nsaids include. This class of pain relief medication includes morphine codeine fentanyl buprenorphine and hydromorphone. Without specific instructions from your veterinarian don t give nsaids to cats. Never give your cat an over the counter nsaid as certain ones can be very dangerous.

There is a category of over the counter painkillers known as nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs commonly referred to as nsaids. Unfortunately over the counter nsaids like ibuprofen aspirin and naproxen block the activity of both cox 1 and cox 2. Opioids opioids are used for more severe pain. Here s why over the counter otc pain medications for people can be dangerous for cats and which medications should be used instead.

The term nonsteroidal distinguishes these drugs from steroids. Nsaids such as paracetamol and ibuprofen used in human medicine are different to pet nsaids and can be dangerous sometimes even fatal to pets. For example acetaminophen tylenol is toxic and can be fatal in cats. Aspirin acetylsalicylic acid asa.

These are extremely common for treating general pain and inflammation in humans but they can be downright dangerous for cats. Nsaids are available as a liquid tablet or injection and are available for most species including dogs cats and rabbits. Your vet may prescribe the. The fda hasn t approved any nsaids for long term pain management but certain ones are cleared for short term use in cats.

Dogs appear to be more sensitive to the adverse effects of blocking cox 1. Novartis animal health s onsior the brand name for robenacoxib is at the time of publication the only nsaid available in pill form for cats. Nsaids are usually the first line of defense. Onsior is also available in an injectable version.

Many common pain relievers have seriously harmful effects for cats. Since the nsaid ibuprofen was released as an over the counter tablet it has generated more calls to the national animal poison control center by dog and cat owners than has any other single drug.